In my on-again-off-again experience with Python for 18 months,
portability seems an issue.
As an example, my inexperienced Python partner 30 miles away has gotten
out of step somehow. I think by installing a different version of numpy
than I use. I gave him a program we both use months ago, and he had no
trouble. (We both use IDLE on 2.5). I made a one character change to it
and sent him the new py file. He can't execute it. I doubt he has
changed anything in the intervening period.
A further example. Months ago I decided to see if I could compile a
program to avoid such problems as above. I planned to satisfy that need,
and see if I could distribute some simple programs to non-Python
friends. I pretty well understand the idea,and got it working with a
small program. It seemed like a lot of manual labor to do it.